His what now? His 头七 (tóu qī) aka the First Seven collection. All GoT, Ring, and biblical references aside, the First Seven is the Buddhist thought that after the seventh day of someone’s passing, their soul shall return to the place where they spent their earthly days and their kin must perform rituals to guide the soul into the next or after-life. Fact. Check!
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Artist Provocateur Xiaowu Zheng Resuscitates The De(con)struction Of Convention
Who?
For those in the slightest of know, the very name Xiaowu Zheng (郑晓武 in Chinese) in itself evokes images of raw, raunchy yet ruminative contradiction. Moving between high-and fast-fashion, classic and conceptual art, Zheng has a fondness for the resuscitation of fashion’s deadstock. #pleasefindabove
From the brazen destruction of gender convention to the museful deconstruction of society’s stylescape, New York Pratt educated whiz kid Xiaowu Zheng is on the edge of glory.
You heard it first from Temper.
What?
Taking inspiration from Chinese mythology, classic Hong Kong horror movies, and historical events such as the 1989 Tiananmen protest, Zheng uses this First Seven collection to speak out on the importance of freedom of speech and the freedom of creating art in itself.
“This is a collection that I want to dedicate to all those brave students who fought for their freedom of speech during the Tiananmen protest in 1989 and so many other brilliant people who fight for freedom all over the world,” Zheng tells us.
When?
The lookbook was shot by Zheng himself with a little help from a friend. During the imposed Covid-19 quarantine. #asyoudo
Where?
Gotham. The City That Never Sleeps. The Empire State. The Big Apple. New York, baby! #tothepoint
Did you know… New York’s nickname “The Big Apple” originated in the 1920s in reference to the prizes (or “big apples”) rewarded at the many racing courses in and around the city. However, it wasn’t officially adopted as the city’s nickname until 1971 as the result of a successful ad campaign intended to attract tourists.
Fact. Check!
Why?
Zheng consistently focuses on exploring and challenging the concept of morality, from the noisy moody stream of consciousness to the search of violence, mystery, horror, and sex. Most of his works use clothing as the prime and primal outlet to illustrate the floating thoughts and dark emotions of his own bouts of depression.
Instead of pulling away from those topics considered more “disturbing” by social convention, Zheng takes his inspirations from the dark side of humanity.
“As someone who is Chinese, it is important for me to use this collection to talk about the persisting reign of censorship in China and how we as the new generation [China’s New Youth] can really create a better social environment,” Zheng explains.
Cross over to the dark side and find enlightenment via
Instagram: @xiaowu_zheng_ishere
FEATURED IMAGE: XIAOWU ZHENG, First Seven collection, 2020
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Perpetually in pursuit of the greater good that is “China Fashion”, van Paridon set up The China Temper to help promote the dynamite dynamic fashion scene sprouting within Beijing, Shanghai, and China overall. Catering to anybody and everybody who reads English and/or Chinese, Temper covers all the basics and bases. From China's street style scenery to its budding photographers, internationally renowned designers, and underground quirks plus phenomena: We present one hot-hip-happening current collective weaving The New "Made in China" tag.
The term “Made in China” is undergoing the ultimate 21st Century makeover. Escorted by the increasingly strong influence of a new thinking among China’s younger generations, regarding individuality and the expression thereof, the fashion scene in the Middle Kingdom is exploding. And stretches far beyond what meets the eye. It’s appliqué, one might say.
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